358 SYLVAN SKETCHES. 



fans, cups, soup-dishes, portable-stools, and most articles 

 of their household furniture which are made of wood. 



Thunberg tells us also that the candles in that country 

 are made of an oil pressed from the seeds of a species of 

 Sumach. " This oil," says he, " becomes, when con- 

 crete, of the consistence of tallow, and is not so hard as 

 wax. The province of Tetsingo more particularly pro- 

 duces this tree, and consequently supplies the greatest 

 quantity of oil. Amongst the presents which the prince 

 from this province brings to the Imperial Court, are one 

 hundred candles of a foot in length, and as thick as a 

 man's arm, with a wick in proportion. These gala can- 

 dles are burned only twice a-year at court, on particular 

 occasions*.'" 



* Thunberg's Travels in Japan, vol. iii. p. 188. 



. 



